Rail anchor



Dec. 6, 1932. G. 1 MOORE ET AL RAIL ANCHOR Filed April 25, 1930 'Patented- Dec. e, 1 '932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE LOOP MOORE .AND JAIEB BGBEBT STEELE, F OWEGO, NEW YORK' .ANGHOR y Application illed April 28,

Our invention relates to improvements in rail anchors or anti-Creeper devices for railroad rails.

. The object of our invention is to provlde a one-piece self-locking anchor which will grip the rail with great tenacity and prevent the creeping thereof.

Our invention comprises an anchor formed from a single piece of metal having the proper amount of resiliency which is bent at each end thereof and adapted to bear with considerable pressure against the rail above the iange at one side of the rail and against the edge of the iiange at the other side of the rail when the anchor is applied to a rail.

The novel features of our invention will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the anchor illustrating its initial position when applyin itto a rail. iig. 2 is a side elevation of the anchor in its applied position on a rail.

F1g. 3 is an end view of the anchor as applied to a rail.

Referring to the drawing, l10 designates a rail supported on a tie plate 11 carrled by a tie 12. An anchor made in accordance with 30 our invention, as shown in the drawing, comprises an under rail portion 13 having .an inwardly bent flange overhanging portion 14 and an upwardly directed toe portion 15.

The under rail portion 13 comprises at one end a downwardly curved section 16 which continues in a loop upwardly to the ange overhangin portion 14 and at the other end a downwarly'curved section 17 which continues in a loop upwardly to the toe portion 40 15. A. li 18 may be provided on the inner vertical ace of the toe` portion 15. A sub stantially straight section 19 is preferably provided intermediate the sections 16 and 17. The end 20 of the portion 14 is preferably curved upwardly with a radius which is substantially equal to the radius of the fillet 21 which connects the ange 22 and the web 23 of the rail.

A substantially flat surface 24 is provided on the anchor adjacent. the portion 14. This 1930. serial NQ. 446,511.

surface and the upper surface of the section 19 are so shaped and disposed with respect to each other that theywlll be brought into close contiguity with the upper surface of the rail fiange andthe under surface of the railbase, respectively, when the anchor is applied to its effective position on the rail, as hereinafter set forth.

Our anchor is adapted to be applied to a rail adjacent the side of a tie by placing it transversely thereon with the curved portion 20 abutting the surface of the rail in the vicinity of the fillet 21. The anchor is so shaped that when it is placed on the rail, in its initial position, as shown in Fig. 1, the shortest distance between the curved surface 20 and the face 25- of the toe portion 15 is less than the shortest distance between the surface of the iillet 21 and the edge of the iange of the rail at the opposite side7 and preferably the distance between the curved portion 20 of the anchor and the section 19 is such that the anchor canbe placed into its initial position on the rail with little eifort; that is the curved portion- 20 can be placed in abutment with the fillet 21 without any material distortion of the anchor.

It will thus be seen from Fig. 1 that when the anchor is in its initial position it more or less hangs on the rail and the upper end of the toe portion 15 is contiguous with the base of the rail at a point somewhatshort of the contiguous edge of the rail base. When the anchor is struck a sharp blow with a hammer or other suitable implement at the point 28 in the direction of the arrow the metal in the loop portion is sprung and the toe portion 15 snaps over the edge of the rail base as shown in Fig. 2 and the anchor thus distorted securelyland effectively grips 90, the rail by virtue of lts tendency to assume the condition from which it was sprung.

It will be noted that in this position the shortest distance between the curved surface 20 and the face of the toe portion 15 of the anchor is greater than the distance betweenV these same portions before the anchor is a plied to the rail, so that, as the anchor ten s to assume its normal condition, its resilient action presses the curved surface 20 against the rail above the flange on one side and the face of the toe portion 15 firmly against the contiguous edge of the rail flange on the other side of the rail and therefore the anchor securely and effectively grips the rail.

When the anchor is in this position, that is as shown in Fig. 2, the upper surface 27 of the straight section 13 is in close contiguity with the under side of the base of the rail; the surface 2l is in close contiguity with the upper surface of the flange of the ra1l, and the under rail curved portions 16 and 17, lwhich depend below the straight section 13, are so positioned that when the rail begins to creep under service conditions the portions 1G and 17 will firmly engage the side face of the stationary tie 12 and the anchor will tend to tilt about a horizontal axis. This tilting action causes the upper surface 27 of the straight section 13 to press firmly and upwardly against the base of the rail while it causes downward pressure of the section 24 upon Ythe upper surface of the flange of the rail, as well as a resultant increased pressure of the face of the toe portion 15 against the contiguous edge of the base flange of the rail.

lVhile we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set lforth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rail anchor comprising a toe portion adapted to engage the flange at one side of a rail, a fillet engaging portion adapted to normally grip the fillet at the other side of a rail, an under rail portion intermediate the aforementioned portions, comprising a tie engaging portion and a portion adapted to lie substantially parallel with the under side of the base of a rail and in close contiguity thereto, and a substantially flat portion adj acent the fillet engaging portion adapted to lie substantially parallel with and in close contiguity to the upper surface of the rail flange but normally out of gripping engagement therewith.

2. A rail anchor formed from a single bar of metal bent to form a body portion having depending under rail portions out of contact with the bottom of the rail base adapted to engage a crosstie, a substantially straight portion intermediate the depending portions contiguous to therail base but normally out of gripping engagement therewith and terminal arms of unequal length adapted to grip the rail between the upper surface of the base flange and the underside of the rail head at one side of a rail and the rail flange at the other side of the rail.

3. An integral anchor having an under rail portion adapted to lie in close contiguity to the under side of the base of a rail, a rail flange overhanging portion adapted to lie in close contiguity to the upper surface of one of the rail flanges but normally out of gripping engagement therewith, said rail flange over-hanging portion terminatingin a rail engaging portion above its flange at one side of the rail and a toe portion extending from the under rail portion adapted to engage the opposite side of the rail, a part of the anchor being deformable to bring the metal under stress during the placing of the anchor on the rail to effect a gripping action on the rail by said rail engaging portions.

4. An integral anchor comprising an/'under rail portion having a. part thereof in close contiguity to the bottom of the base of a rail, a rail flange overhanging portion adapted to lie in close contiguity to the upper surface of one of the rail flanges but out of gripping enl gagement therewith, said rail flange overhanging portion terminating in a rail engaging portion between the upper surface of the base flange and the under surface of the rail head at one side of the rail and a toe portion extending from the under rail portion adapted to engage the opposite side of the rail, a part of the anchor being deformable to bring the metal under stress during the placing of the anchor on the rail to action on the rail by said rail engaging portions.

effect a gripping i 5. An anchor comprising a portion adapted l to engage the edge of a flange on one side of the rail, a portion adapted to engage the other side of the rail at a point above the flange of the rail, a portion adapted to lie in close contiguity tothe upper surface of the flange of the rail, but normally out of gripping engagement therewith, an under rail portion adapted to lie in close contiguity to the base of the rail` but normally out of gripping engagement therewith, said contiguous portions adapted to be so disposed that they will simultaneously assume contiguous relation with the respective portions of the rail \during the placement of the anchor on the ip ,the rail upon application of the anchor t ereto and sai portion adapted to grip the rail due to the tilting action of the anchor upon the longitudinal movement of the rail.

7. A one piece rail anchor comprising an under rail portion having a tie engaging portion and a portion adapted to lie contiguous to the under surface of the rail, a rail fillet engaging portion, a rail flange engaging portion and a portion in close contiguity to the upper surface of the flange of the rail.

8.V An anchor comprising a toe portion adapted to engage one side of a rail, a fillet engaging portion adapted to engage the fillet on the opposite side of the rail a portion adapted to lie contiguous to the upper surface of the rail-liange substantially throughout its width, and a plurality of intermediate resilient spaced loop portions one of which is deformable during placement of the anchor on a rail whereby a ipping action is f effected on the rail by sai toe and fillet engaging portions and a substantially straight portion intermediate said loop portions adapted to lie in close contiguity to the under side of a rail when the anchor is assembled therewith, said straight portion together with-the portion which lies contiguous to the upper surface of the rail flange adapted to Y resist the tilting of the anchor.

9. An anchor having a plurality of curved under rail portions adapted to engage a railroad tie, aisubstantially straight portion intermediate said portions, a. portion adapted "to engage the edge of the base flange at one side of a rail, a portion adapted to engage the fillet between the web and base an e at the other side of a rail, a portion in c ose contiguity vto the ange of the rail adjacent said fillet engaging portion, said portion and the aforementioned straight' portion adapted to grip the flange of the rail upon the longitudinal movement of the rail.

10. iiY anchor comprising a toe portion adapted to engage the iange of a rail, a loop portion integral with said toe portion adapted-to embrace the other iiange of a rail and engage the rail at a point above the upper surface of the iiange when the anchor is initially applied to a rail, said loop portion having at one end thereof a portion adapted to be brought into close contiguity to the upper surface of said flange and at 'the other end dthereof a portion adapted to be brought into close contiguity to the under side of the rail base, upon the movement of the anchor to its operative position with respect to the rail.

11. A rail anchor comprising a. pair of tie engaging portions, one of said tie engaging portions terminating in aportion engaging the llet of a rail and having a rtion in close contiguity to the upper sur ace of the iiange of a raii and the other portion engagfiat portion and said straight member extending substantially parallel with the base of the rai 'connecting said tie en a ing portions, said member adaptedl to 11e in close contiguity to the under surface of the pail when the anchor is in its assembled posiion. Y Y

l2. An anchor comprising an under rail portion, a rail flange overhanging portion, and a rail ange edge engaging portion; said portions being disposed relatively to one an.

other so that when the anchor is ap lied in its initial position to the rail, sai

hanging portion engages one side of the rail i at a point above the upper surface of the rail ange and said edge engaging portion is positioned a-t a'. distance short of the edge of the base flange on the other side of the rail and when the anchor -is drive rtransversely of the rail it becomes distorted and in tending to assume its original shape grips the rail between the second and third mentioned portions and said under rail portion is in close proximity to the base of the rail at a point intermediate its edges and the overhanging portion is in close proximity to the upper surface of the base flange for a substantial distance toward its edge.

13. An anchor comprising a rail flange edge engaging portion, an under rail portion, and a rail flange overhanging portion having an inner face disposed angularly with respect to the upper face of said under rail portion at an angle less than the slope of the upper surface of the rail flange, said portions being so disposed relatively to one another that when the anchor is applied initially to the rail said overhanging portion engages the rail at a point ,above the upper surface of its ange and the said edge engaging portion is positioned short of the ed e of the rail flange and when the anchor is driven transversely of the rail it is distorted and in tending to assume its original shape grips the railbetween the first and third mentioned portions and said faces snugly it the rail iange.

14. In a structure, a rail, means for supporting said rail, an anchor mounted on said rail in abutting relation to said means, coinprising a portion exerting a pressure against the edge of the rail ange, a portion exerting a press-ure against the rail at a point above the upper surface of the rail iange, a portion exerting a pressure downwardly against the latter surface, and a portion exerting a pressure upwardly against the underside of said fiange at a point intermediate its edges.

15. An anchor comprising a portion ada ted to exert a pressure against. the edge o a rail iange, a portion adapted to exert a pressure against the rail at a point above the uppe'r surface of said ange, a portion adapted to exert a downward pressure on said surface throughout a substantial portion of its length, and a portion adapted to exert an upward press/ure against the underside of said ange at a point intermediate its edges.

16. An anchor comprising a portion adapted to exert a pressure against the edge rail ange, a portion ada tedto exert a pressure against the fillet o the rail, a portion ada ted to exert a downward ressure against the upper surface of the ra11 iiange a substantial distance from the fillet engaging portion, and a'portion adapted to exert an upward pressure against the underside-of said flange at a point intermediate its edges. 17. An anchor comprising a portion adapted to exert a pressure against the edge o a rail fiange, a portion adapted to exert a pressure against the rail at .a point above the upper surface of said flange, a portion adapted to exert a downward pressure against said surface, and a portion adapted to exert an upward pressure against the underside of'said flange intermediate its edges, said portions being so related to one another that said pressures are exerted simultaneously when the anchor resists the creeping action of the rail in service.

18. An anchor comprisingarail flange over- Y hanging portion, an under rail portion and a rail edge engaging portion, said portions being so related to one another that when the anchor is applied initially to the rail, the end of the rail flange'overhanging portion engages the rail at a point above the upper surface of the rail liange and the under side of the latter portion is disposed in spaced relation to the latter surface, the upper sur-- face of the under rail portion is disposed obliquely with respect to the under surface of the base of the rail, the rail edge engaging portion is in spaced relation to the associated edge of the rail flange, and when the anchor is driven transversely onto the rail to its effective position, the last mentioned portion engages said edge of the rail, the under rail portion is brought into parallel relation with respect to said under surface ofthe base of the rail, and said rail flange overhanging portion engages the upper surface of the rail flange throughout a substantial portion of its length.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aiiix our signatures.

GEORGE LOOP MOORE. JAMES ROBERT STEELE. 

